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 Approach
Benefits
 Shell Expro recently set about adding ten years of extra life to one of the
North Sea's longest serving platforms, Brent Alpha. The Brent Alpha Redevelopment
(BAR) project involves converting the Alpha platform to lighthouse mode, that
is, day-to-day monitoring, control, power supply is performed from another platform,
in this case Brent Bravo.
As part of this project, a flexible flowline was installed between Alpha and
Bravo to carry the mixed wellhead production from Alpha to Bravo. For the first
time in the UK sector of the North Sea a flexible riser in a free hanging catenary
configuration was used to connect the flowline to the Bravo platform.
MCS provided advice to Shell Expro relating to this riser and also verified
the design which was performed by Wellstream, Newcastle. Of specific interest
was the fatigue loading on both the riser and the hang-off structure. MCS, as
a worldwide, independent expert in flexible pipe technology was well positioned
to provide this support to Shell Expro.
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- Performed an assessment of the free hanging catenary
riser option to evaluate and rank potential risks.
- Developed the Flexible Pipe Specification for the
procurement of the flexible pipe.
- Assisted with the specification of enhanced riser
loading characteristics resulting from the interaction of the wave
environment with the platform.
- Performed independent verification of the Wellstream
design.
- Provided support for the fatigue analysis of the
riser structure.
- Supported Wellstream and Shell in solving fatigue
associated issues for the flexible riser, ancillary equipment (bending
stiffener) and hang-off assembly.
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- Utilising our extensive operational knowledge and
a risk assessment approach, MCS assisted Shell Expro in their decision
to use either a rigid linepipe or flexible riser as the tieback option
for the BAR poject. The use of a flexible pipe resulted in significant
savings in CAPEX.
- The provision of a proper Flexible Pipe Specification
provided clear requirements as well as ensuring that the project specific
requirements were communicated effectively to the potential flexible
pipe suppliers..
- Performing independent flexible pipe fatigue analyses
helped highlight issues that may not have otherwise been brought to
the fore in the project.
- Our system approach to verification helped ensure
that all contractors had the same interpretation of design data.
- As a result of our involvement, a material influence
was brought to bear on the final design to the benefit of our client
Shell Expro.
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